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Year: 2016

Sheriff: Public help needed in death investigation of Kan. parolee

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Labat-photo Kans. Dept. of Corrections
Labat-photo Kans. Dept. of Corrections

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Authorities are seeking the public’s help investigating the death of a parolee whose remains were found near Wichita.

The Wichita Eagle reports that James Labat was last seen alive by a relative June 25, less than two weeks after he was released on parole in Sedgwick County. A hunter found his remains in December in a wooded area, and they were identified using dental records.

Capt. Greg Pollock of the Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office says authorities are working to pinpoint Labat’s movements after he was released from prison. The case isn’t classified as a homicide, although Pollock says the circumstances are considered suspicious.

A coroner’s ruling says Labat’s bones lacked any markings or injuries that would suggest how he died.

Labat had several convictions for burglary and drug offenses.

FHSU explains giving up 1A State Basketball Tournament

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FHSU Athletics

HAYS, Kan. – Fort Hays State University announced today, with the continued success of its women’s basketball program and in mutual agreement with the Kansas State High School Activities Association, the Kansas Class 1A Division I State Basketball Tournament will be moved to Dodge City Civic Center this year.

The move comes in support of the Fort Hays State University women’s basketball team and its potential to host the NCAA Central Regional. The Tiger women currently hold a record of 18-2 overall and 12-2 in the MIAA. They were ranked No. 7 in the latest WBCA Division II National Poll.

While the 1A Division I high school tournament is scheduled for March 9-12, the NCAA Regional dates are March 11, 12, and 14. The conflicting dates do not allow for both tournaments to run simultaneously at FHSU’s Gross Memorial Coliseum, since the NCAA Women’s Basketball Regional must be played on the dates designated by the NCAA.

In order to secure the alternate site of Dodge City in advance, the decision needed to be made prior to the Fort Hays State women’s basketball team securing the No. 1 seed in the Central Region. The NCAA regional host is not officially determined until a few days prior to the start of the state high school tournament in March.

Given the success of the FHSU women’s basketball team, the decision to make the hosting opportunity available is a show of support for the efforts and success of the FHSU women’s program. The team enters February with the top record in the Central Region against NCAA Division II competition.

Dr. Mirta M. Martin, FHSU President, said it was unfortunate the university would not be able to accommodate both tournaments, and the decision had to be made now. “We greatly value our relationships with Kansas high schools and with the KSHSAA, and we look forward to hosting all types of high school events in the future, but obviously our first loyalty must be to our own student-athletes.”

Athletic Director Curtis Hammeke noted the long-standing relationship between FHSU and the Kansas State High School Activities Association and its staff members. “We have worked diligently together over many years to accommodate various state events around FHSU events,” he said. “For the second straight year, however, the conflicts related to hosting the NCAA women’s basketball regional have created a set of challenges that we cannot resolve in the best interests of all involved. This decision allows us to support the outstanding accomplishments of our women’s basketball team once more, while not compromising the format of the 1A Division I high school state tournament.”

Classs 1A Division I State Basketball Tournament moving to Dodge City

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KSHSAA Release

TOPEKA, Kan. – As postseason basketball approaches, the KSHSAA and Fort Hays State University have mutually agreed to relocate this year’s Class 1A Division I state basketball tournament from FHSU to the Civic Center in Dodge City. The state tournament dates remain as scheduled March 9 – 12, 2016.

The Fort Hays State University women’s basketball team has positioned itself to potentially host an NCAA regional tournament March 10, 11, 12 and 14, which would conflict with the state high school tournament. By mutual agreement of FHSU and the KSHSAA, the state tournament will be hosted at the Dodge City Civic Center by the Dodge City Sports Commission.

“Whether or not Fort Hays State succeeds in winning the right to host an NCAA regional, the Class 1A Division I state tournament will remain in Dodge City this year,” said KSHSAA Executive Director, Gary Musselman. “The logistics and lead time in staging a successful state tournament necessitate a decision which is in the best interest of Fort Hays State University and the member schools of the KSHSAA, be made now.”

The Dodge City Sports Commission will be working to provide a positive experience for all participants. The 2,500 seat capacity Civic Center is home to Dodge City Community College basketball and in past decades hosted the Class BB state high school tournaments and the annual Dodge City Tournament of Champions featuring high school basketball teams from across the state.

The Class 1A DII tournaments will also be in Dodge City played at the United Wireless Area.

Civic Center Website

The schedule will be as follows:

Wednesday, March 9, 2016 Boys Quarterfinal games at 3:00 pm, 4:45 pm, 6:30 pm, & 8:15 pm

Thursday, March 10, 2016 Girls Quarterfinal games at 3:00 pm, 4:45 pm, 6:30 pm, 8:15 pm

Friday, March 11, 2016 Semifinal games
Girls at 3:00 pm and 6:30 pm
Boys at 4:45 pm and 8:15 pm

Saturday, March 12, 2016 Consolation and State Championship games
12:00 p.m. – 3rd Place Girls Game
2:00 p.m. – 3rd Place Boys Game
4:00 p.m. – Girls Championship Game
6:15 p.m. – Boys Championship Game

Kan. AG: Debate on how justices are chosen to go on until voters step in

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KS-attorney-general-seal-280x280TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Attorney General Derek Schmidt says questions about how Kansas Supreme Court justices are chosen will remain until the state’s voters decide the issue.

The Republican attorney general spoke Tuesday to a caucus of GOP Kansas House members. The chamber’s Republican leaders are trying to build support for changing the process for selecting justices.

Conservative Republicans argue that the current system is undemocratic. But changing it requires voters to approve an amendment to the state constitution.

A nominating commission led by attorneys screens applicants for Supreme Court vacancies and names three finalists. The governor must pick one, and legislators have no role.

Supporters of the current system contend it minimizes partisan politics in the selection process. They contend conservative GOP Gov. Sam Brownback and his allies want to control the courts.

Kansas man enters pleas in kidnapping, drug case

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Pina
Pina

HUTCHINSON -A Kansas man accused of aggravated kidnapping, battery-domestic violence, possession of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia with intent to sell entered a not guilty pleas to the charges during arraignment Monday.

The victim alleged that on November 1, 2015, she was with Arthur Pina Jr., 27, Hutchinson. They got into an argument and she wanted to leave his vehicle.

She told police he refused to let her go. She was eventually able to escape.

When police made contact with Pina, they discovered the drugs and paraphernalia and allege it was a seller’s quantity.

Pina has prior convictions for distribution of drugs and possession of drugs in Sherman County and sale of drugs within a thousand feet of a school, cultivation of drugs, possession of a precursor to manufacture and endangerment of a child in Reno County.

The case will now be scheduled for a pretrial and then possible trial.

Hays’ official snowfall is 5.5″, so far

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Tuesday morning snow at the Hays Parks Department (Picture courtesy JoAnn Schroller)
Tuesday morning snow at the Hays Parks Department (Pictures courtesy Jo Ann Schroller)

By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

As of 8 a.m. Tuesday, Hays has received 5.5 inches of snowfall, as officially recorded at the K-State Agriculture Research Station south of town. There was 0.61 of moisture measured in the past 24 hours, with light rain off and on in Hays Monday afternoon.

Total moisture for 2016 is now 1.29 inches; total snowfall for the 2015/2016 season is 12.8 inches.

A Winter Storm Warning remains in effect until 6 p.m. tonight.

HSHP Golden Ladle won by Auto World

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hshp jim strine
Jim Strine gets a sample of posole, a Mexican soup featuring hominy and pork, from Nicole Pfeifer at the Eagle Communications booth.

By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

“It might be one of our biggest ever,” guessed one Humane Society of the High Plains board member as she wove her way through the crowd of soup and animal lovers Sunday.

Vehicles overflowed the Deutsche Fest Hall parking lot at the Ellis County Fairgrounds, prompting some attendees to ask if something else was going on besides the HSHP Soup’R Bowl.

Nope, nothing else.

Just the incredibly popular annual event that is the biggest fundraiser for the Humane Society with all proceeds going for care of the animals at the Virginia Miller Animal Shelter east of Hays on Highway 40.

Fourteen celebrity chefs each cooked up 10 gallons of their best homemade soup, all vying for the coveted “Golden Ladle.”

The soup samplers–many make it a tradition to stop in for lunch with family and friends after their Sunday church service–paid five dollars to try a couple sips of each soup. Then they voted for their favorite soup (or soups), placing one or more of their five blue tickets in the blue cans at each chef’s station, and enjoyed a full-size cup of the soup they deemed the best.

The top three soups voted the best this year were announced by HSHP Board Member Dana Schmidt.

In third place was Sunflower Bank with Creamy White Chili Soup; second place went to Lewis Chrysler and their Sausage and Sauerkraut Soup; and winning the Golden Ladle–by just three votes–Auto World with White Chili Soup.

HPD Activity Log Feb. 1

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The Hays Police Department responded to 10 animal calls and 11 traffic stops Monday, Feb. 1, 2016, according to the HPD Activity Log.

Lost Animals ONLY–200 block E 32nd St, Hays; 1:56 AM
Unwanted Person–100 block W 4th St, Hays; 2:41 AM
MV Accident /DUI–400 block W 37th St, Hays; 8:36 AM; 8:38 AM
Welfare Check–1700 block Volga Dr, Hays; 8:40 AM
Lost Animals ONLY–400 block W 15th St, Hays; 8:55 AM
Criminal Trespass–300 block W 16th St, Hays; 9:01 AM
Animal Cruelty/Neglect–400 block E 20th St, Hays; 10:12 AM
Animal At Large–1000 block E 8th St, Hays; 11:04 AM
Drug Offenses–1700 block Vine St, Hays; 12:51 PM; 2:45 PM
Welfare Check–1300 block Vine St, Hays; 3:28 PM
Animal At Large–3300 block Skyline Dr, Hays; 4:20 PM
Suicidal Subject–500 block E 8th St, Hays; 4:26 PM
Probation/Parole Violation–1000 block Fort St, Hays; 4:59 PM
Parking Complaint–200 block W 24th St, Hays; 7:03 PM
MV Accident-Hit and Run–500 block W 6th St, Hays; 12 AM; 7 PM
MV Accident-Co Road/St Hwy–600 block E 13th St, Hays; 7:40 PM
Domestic Disturbance–3700 block Hall St, Hays; 9:26 PM
Credit Card Violations–2900 block Willow St, Hays; 10:05 PM
Blackmail/Extortion–100 block Ash St, Hays; 9 PM

hpd top sponsor jan 6

Dramatic increase in those sick from Kan. dinner theater norovirus

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By ALEX SMITH

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment is investigating an outbreak of norovirus, shown here, at the New Theatre Restaurant in Overland Park. CREATIVE COMMONS / PUBLIC DOMAIN IMAGES
The Kansas Department of Health and Environment is investigating an outbreak of norovirus, shown here, at the New Theatre Restaurant in Overland Park.
CREATIVE COMMONS / PUBLIC DOMAIN IMAGES

A food-borne virus traced to an Overland Park dinner theater has sickened even more people than originally thought, health authorities say.

More than 600 people have now reported symptoms of norovirus after attending the New Theatre Restaurant in mid-January.

Since the first reports of the illness, state and local health authorities have been working with the popular venue on cleanup and safe food practices.

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment says the New Theatre hired a private company to clean the facility with an approved disinfectant that kills the norovirus and is safe for food establishments.

Norovirus is highly infectious and can cause diarrhea and vomiting, among other symptoms. Transmission can occur through food or water or by touching contaminated surfaces.

Alex Smith is a reporter, and partner in the Heartland Health Monitor team. You can reach him on Twitter @AlexSmithKCUR

People Saving People nominations now being accepted by KDOT

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KDOT

Nominations for the 2016 People Saving People Award are now being accepted by the Kansas Department of Transportation.

The award is presented to a person or organization who advocates safety and has a positive effect in transportation safety behavior. Awards are presented in three categories: community leadership and engineering; education and information; and enforcement, emergency response, prosecution and adjudication.

More details about the awards and nomination forms can be found at www.ktsro.org. Nominations must be submitted by email, mail or fax by 8 a.m. Feb. 29, 2016.

The awards will be presented April 20 at the annual Kansas Transportation Safety Conference in Topeka.

The 2015 winners include:

  • Master Trooper Jeff Schawe, of the Kansas Highway Patrol – Schawe initiated the Seatbelts Are For Everyone (SAFE) program in three Stafford County high schools and saw an 18.3 percent increase in the average usage rate of seatbelts in one year.
  • Charles Branson, Douglas County District Attorney– Branson championed the effort to toughen a Kansas law to expand the definition of aggravated battery to include bodily injuries suffered from a drunk driver.
  • Kenneth Henderson Middle School science teachers and Garden City Police Officer Troy Davis – The group developed curriculum on the physics of a vehicle/pedestrian collision to teach students in detail the impact a crash can have. Officer Davis then demonstrated a simulated crash.
  • Shawnee County Fire District #4 – The district has taken a new approach to improving their operations while working along the highway to help improve safety for both the motorists and the workers.
  • El Dorado Student Safety Council – The high school students developed an interactive crosswalk safety program for elementary students and presented it to all to the classes at the four elementary schools in the district that included about 1,200 children.

Groundhog makes his annual prediction

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Punxsutawney Phil on Tuesday morning- courtesy photo
Punxsutawney Phil on Tuesday morning- courtesy photo

PUNXSUTAWNEY, Pa. (AP) — The handlers of Pennsylvania’s most famous groundhog, Punxsutawney Phil, say the furry rodent has failed to see his shadow, meaning means he’s “predicted” an early spring.

Members of the top hat-wearing Inner Circle announced the “forecast” at sunrise, just before 7:30 a.m. Tuesday.

A German legend has it that if a furry rodent sees his shadow on Feb. 2, winter will last another six weeks. If not, spring comes early.

In reality, Phil’s prediction is decided ahead of time by the group on Gobbler’s Knob. The tiny hill is located just outside the town for which he’s named about 65 miles northeast of Pittsburgh.

Records going back to 1887 show Phil has now predicted more winter 102 times while forecasting an early spring just 18 times. There are no records for the remaining years.

Nearly 13 inches of snow reported in NW Kansas UPDATE

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According to Bill Ring of Ellis County Emergency Management, 5 inches of snow had accumulated in and around Hays as of 11 a.m. Tuesday — and the snow was still falling. In Ellis, 7 inches of snow was reported.

In northwest Rooks County, there was a report of 8.5 inches, while 9 inches of snow accumulated near Colby in Thomas County. Smith County saw a report of 6 inches.

The highest snowfall reported in the region was in Rawlins County, which saw a report of 12.8 inches.

Deputies also were reporting slick road conditions on Old U.S. 40 and U.S. 183.

Check Hays Post for more as details become available.

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